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Richard’s Selected Correspondence On Mr. John de Ruiter
RESPONDENT No. 00: John De Ruiter, the hot shot guru from Canada whom some reckon to be ‘bigger than Jesus’, has become embroiled in a multiple marriage storm. He has shocked his devotees in Edmonton by announcing that ‘Truth has told him’ to marry two of his most attractive female followers (this in addition to his current wife and three children). The recent pronouncements of the blue eyed saviour have thrown the ashram into chaos, with disappointed women leaving in their droves. This includes dozens of recent British immigrants who have given up job, home and family in the UK, just to be near their enigmatic Master – even to the extent of marrying local Canadians! <snip> RESPONDENT No. 3: As this was posited as gossip, I’d still suspect there was some truth in it. I think if one is going to go public with their realization, they have a certain responsibility to create an image that doesn’t make the guru business look like an immoral or mentally unbalanced alternative to normal society. And I’m afraid that, if true, John De Ruiter is not helping the situation with this latest move, in my opinion. RESPONDENT No. 4: Andrew Cohen is hot on ethics and has criticised a number of teachers including his own, Papaji who is in the Ramana Maharshi line. Andrew talks about making evolutionary jumps in consciousness, but teachers or messengers from Papaji almost all see Andrew as going out on a limb. Catherine Ingrams, also works morality into her satsangs, and she was with Papaji for longer than Andrew, I think. But, for me, morality is not part of the teachings. That doesn’t mean it’s not relevant for society, just not relevant for enlightenment, whatever that maybe. RESPONDENT No. 3: I agree that morality is not generally part of the teachings, but there are some other factors to consider. First, there is the general society which we live in, we still are part of it. But more than this, there is just the practical considerations. There still is our inner self, and so there is an inner morality that is not subjective or relative but is definite and concrete, such as when we are mean to another, we experience that suffering ourselves. This is the true morality, the inner one. As far as being promiscuous, this is also an inner reality. We can know whether what we are doing is in conformity to universal law by just listening to our inner senses.(...) If someone is going to be a public figure, an enlightened teacher, then it is somewhat of a responsibility to be impeccable in their actions. RESPONDENT No. 2: Do you know any teachers who live up to that standard or even try? RESPONDENT No. 3: Well, I think many have tried. But they fall down. RESPONDENT No. 2: Then I suggest that the current evidence discounts morality as part and parcel of enlightenment. RESPONDENT: It surprises me to see morality thrown into a debate about truth. Morality (...) will stand in the way to honesty and truth. A lover of truth (...) is neither ‘moral’, nor ‘immoral’, but unconcerned about it; ‘amoral’, if you want. RICHARD: Indeed, yet a person is amoral Does the altered state of consciousness known as ‘Spiritual Enlightenment’ (an embodiment of ‘The Truth’ by whatever name) bestow such a remarkable freedom? RESPONDENT: I’ve read most or everything you’ve posted on [Mailing List ‘C’] (how in the world did you end up there?) and would like to discuss some stuff with you. First of all, I find you seriously non-delusional, so this should be a different kind of discussion. RICHARD: Oh, excellent ... what a refreshing start to an E-Mail (the amount of objections to being happy and harmless here-on-earth that I receive is rather staggering, to say the least)! As for the Mailing List: what happened was Mr. John De Ruiter recently came to the village where I live (Byron Bay, held by some to be the New Age Mecca, is a must on the guru circuit) and an acquaintance went to two of his meetings. Consequently, when she talked to me about him, and as I had not heard of him before, I sent the computer searching the Internet and among several other pages it came across ‘guru gossip’ and thus to [Mailing List ‘C’]. As the main topic of the then 104 E-Mails was about ‘Enlightened Beings’ failing to live up to their own standards (the morality/immorality thread) it seemed to be apropos to what I have discovered ... so I wrote a brief paragraph questioning the belief that ‘Spiritual Enlightenment’ (and ‘Truth’ itself) was amoral. RESPONDENT No. 6: So I think you are saying that enlightenment is not a necessary step to where you are now? RICHARD: It is totally unnecessary ... plus detrimental to both individual and communal salubrity. RESPONDENT No. 6: Is enlightenment a more useful or evolved place to be than pre-enlightenment? RICHARD: No, to be enlightened is to be anti-life ... peace-on-earth is scornfully discarded so as to secure a vainglorious after-death ‘Peace That Passeth All Understanding’. In other words: selfish immortality. RESPONDENT: Are you in the right forum? RICHARD: Yes. I am discussing ‘Truth’ like all get-out and, as Mr. John De Ruiter is an Enlightened Being, then his philosophy is the philosophy of enlightenment ... and I am certainly comparing and contrasting and sharing my experience and expertise in the entire area of religiosity, spirituality, mysticality and metaphysicality as per the welcome message. Vis.:
The list is open to all ... why do you ask? * RESPONDENT: All I know of John de Ruiter is what I read on his website (www.johnderuiter.com) and comments from an internet acquaintance. However, from this little, I wondered if you were in the right forum. RICHARD: Okay ... now that I have explained that I am indeed discussing ‘Truth’ like all get-out and (as Mr. John De Ruiter is an Enlightened Being his philosophy is the philosophy of enlightenment) as I am certainly comparing and contrasting and sharing my experience and expertise in the entire area of religiosity, spirituality, mysticality and metaphysicality as per the welcome message, am I to take it that you are not wondering anymore whether I am in the right forum? If not, please let me know because I am only too happy to discuss the subject of aptness further with you.
RETURN TO RICHARD’S SELECTED CORRESPONDENCE INDEX The Third Alternative (Peace On Earth In This Life Time As This Flesh And Blood Body) Here is an actual freedom from the Human Condition, surpassing Spiritual Enlightenment and any other Altered State Of Consciousness, and challenging all philosophy, psychiatry, metaphysics (including quantum physics with its mystic cosmogony), anthropology, sociology ... and any religion along with its paranormal theology. Discarding all of the beliefs that have held humankind in thralldom for aeons, the way has now been discovered that cuts through the ‘Tried and True’ and enables anyone to be, for the first time, a fully free and autonomous individual living in utter peace and tranquillity, beholden to no-one.
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